README

Owly

https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b195ce4c-e078-49be-bc13-44a72b6dc189

AirDrop between iPhones and Linux devices whose Wi-Fi isn't Apple's Broadcom chip.

See supported hardware.

 Install


Arch/Omarchy

If using Omarchy, you can install Owly together with omdrop to get it in your bar:

sh
 Install Omdrop:
omarchy plugin add https://github.com/netmojo-systems/omdrop-plugin.git

 Install Owly (omdrop-owl):
yay -S omdrop-owl


If you're just using Arch, or don't want the UI, you can just install the CLI:

sh
yay -S owly





NixOS

nix
inputs.owly.url = "github:t4t5/owly";


nix
imports = [ inputs.owly.nixosModules.default ];
services.owly.enable = true;
services.owly.settings = { allow_untested = true; };





Debian/Ubuntu

Download the .deb from the releases page and run:

sh
sudo apt install ./owly__amd64.deb      Debian 12, Ubuntu 22.04 and newer





Fedora

Download the .rpm from the releases page and run:

sh
sudo dnf install ./owly-.x86_64.rpm     Fedora 44 and newer





From source

Requires Rust 1.88 or newer:

sh
cargo build --release --locked -p owlyd -p owly-cli
sudo packaging/install.sh owly
sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo nmcli general reload conf




 Usage

Start the radio in your terminal:

sh
owly radio up


Then, in another terminal:

sh
 To receive files:
owly receive --dir ~/Downloads

 To send files:
owly browse     (find nearby AirDrop receivers)
owly send --to "Jane's iPhone" photo.jpg


Make sure you set your phone's Airdrop setting to "Everyone for 10 minutes".

 Supported hardware

Status: ✅ both directions work, ⚠️ unreliable (see known issues), ❌ fails, ❓ untested

Modes: Shared keeps Wi-Fi connected; Exclusive and Active monitor turn it off while the radio is up (see why?)




| Card | Driver | Status | Tested on |
|---|---|---|---|
| MediaTek MT7925 | mt7925e | ✅ Shared | Framework 13, 14c3:0717, Omarchy 4.0.4 (kernel 7.2.5) |
| MediaTek MT7612U (USB) | mt76x2u | ✅ Exclusive | 0e8d:7612 (kernel 7.2.9) |
| Realtek RTL8822BE | rtw88_8822be | ✅ Exclusive; shared untested | Crosshair VII Hero, 10ec:b822, NixOS 26.11 (kernel 7.2.9) |
| Realtek RTL8851BE | rtw89_8851be | ✅ Shared | ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. ASUS Vivobook 14 X1404VAPBF_X1404VA, 10ec:b851, openSUSE Tumbleweed (kernel 7.3.0) |
| Realtek RTL8852AE | rtw89_8852ae | ✅ Shared | • ThinkPad P14s Gen 2a, 10ec:8852, Ubuntu 26.04.1 (kernel 7.0)• LENOVO ThinkPad T14 Gen 2a, 10ec:8852, Omarchy (kernel 7.2.8) |
| Realtek RTL8852BE | rtw89_8852be | ✅ Shared | ASUS PRIME B550M-A WIFI II, 10ec:b852, CachyOS (kernel 7.2.9) |
| Realtek RTL8852CE | rtw89_8852ce | ✅ Shared and exclusive | • Legion Slim 5 16AHP9, 10ec:c852, Omarchy 4.0.4 (kernel 7.2.5)• ThinkBook 16 G7 IML, 10ec:c852, Ubuntu 24.04.5 (kernel 7.0) |
| Realtek RTL8922AE | rtw89_8922ae | ✅ Exclusive | ASUS System Version, 10ec:8922, CachyOS (kernel 7.3.0) |
| Realtek RTL8852BU (USB) | rtw89_8852bu | ✅ Exclusive (opt-in), as a second card | USB adapter, 35bc:0108, NixOS 26.05 (kernel 7.2.9) |
| Qu